Extension device



June 1931. v ANDERSON Y 1,809,618

EXTENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. '7. 1950 41.14.,', 'lll'llllll INVENTOR. /ya fl/afee @a/.90@

Bil/@mm A TTORNE YS.

Patented June 9, 1931 Unirse stares @FFE llTAURCE ANDERSON, OF EDGEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LEVY, ANDERSON CO., IVNG., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ESLAND, A. CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND i EXTENSION DEVICE Application led January 7, 193i). Serial No. 419,048.

My present invention relates to the jewelry art, and has particular reference to eXtension devices for use in liexible bracelets.

`@ne object of the invention is to provide t an improved construction' for increasing the strength and rigidity of the link members forming the extension devices.

Another object is to provide an extension device having a minimum number of parts.

An additional object is to provide novel self-engaging and self-guiding complemental locking means for the extension links.

A further object is to provide a link member for an extension device with yan integral strap engaging clamp. Y

With these and other objects, and advantageous features in view, the linvention consists of certain novel arrangements of parts Y more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view'of the extension device, in folded position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a top plan View and a bottom plan view thereof, inunfolded position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the folded extension device;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 with the parts in separated position;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the end link member.

It has been found desirable in extension devices to increase the strength and the rigidity of the extension links, particularly in the smaller sizes suitable for feminine use, and

to decrease the number of parts required thus producing a more eiicient and more dependable extension device while reducing the manufacturing cost and facilitating assembly and repair. I have devised an improved construction which utilizes a member having side walls and a plurality of links which are hingedly connected together and are foldable between the side walls, the links being arcuate in transverse section in order to increase their strength-and rigidity and the last link being shaped to provide an integral strap end clamp; and the following is a detailed description of one specific extension device construction which embodies the principles of my invention:

Referring to the drawings, the extension device designated 10 in Figure 1, connects the two ends 11 and 12 of a flexible bracelet, illustrated in the ligure as a link mesh watch strap. The extension device 10 comprises a member 13 having a clamp lever 14 at one end thereof for releasably securing the strap end 11 therein, the clamp lever 14 having 'integral trunnions 15 which are pvotally mounted in the side walls 16 of the member 18. A. linger piece 17 is formed at the oppositeend of the member 13 for a purpose hereinafter described.

`'lwo links 18, 19 are hingedly connected to the member 13, ther link 18 having lateral trunnions 19@L at one end thereof-which are pivotally mounted in suitable openings in the side walls 16 of the member 13, the other end of the link 18 being formed as an eye 20 to receive the rolled end 21 of the link 19. As

Villustrated in Figure 8., the free end of the ing catch member which detachably inter-r locks with the end 23 of the link 18; a further bend of the free end of the link 19 in a direction parallel to the body portion cooperates with toothed lateral extensions 24 ofthe link 19 to form a clamp 25 for receiving the end 12 of the watch strap. Asfwill be noted from Figure 7, the extensions 24 are bent around the sides of tliefstrap end 12 so as to force the strap engaging teeth of the clamp firmly into the strap end.

Suitable guiding means vfor guiding the edge 28 into engagement with a catch member 22'y are provided, the preferred construction including a slot 26 adjacent the end 23 and a guiding tongue 27 struck upwardly from the link 19and positioned to enter the slot 25 and guide the edge 23 into engagement with the l catch member 22.

To further strengthen the links i8, 19, and to increase their rigidity, the central portions of the links are curved as indicated in Figure (i, thus presenting their` convex surface outwardly; this curving permits use of thinner metal stock, and avoids unsightly strengthening ribs.

My improved construction of extension device therefore effectively increases the strength and rigidity of the link members, and `decreases the number of required parts by forming` a strap clamp integral with the lower extension link; the cooperating slot and tongue serve to guide the edge 28 of the intermediate link into engagement with the catch member for securely locking the extension `device in folded position, unfolding of the extension device occurring whenever the finger piece l? of the member 13 is lifted upward ly.

lVhile I have disclosed a specific constructional embodiment of the principles of my invention, it is obvious that various changes in the arrangement and in the structure of the parts, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims, may be made.

I claim:

l. In a flexible bracelet, an extension device comprisingalongitudinally arcuate sheet metal member having bracelet end clamping meansat one end thereof, a longitudinally arcuate sheet metal end extension link hingedly secured thereto, said links also being arcuate in transverse section whereby said links are strengthened and fitting together when in folded position, and bracelet end clamping means at the free end of the end link.

2. In a fiexible bracelet, an extension device comprising a longitudinally arcuate channel member having bracelet end clamping means at one end thereof, longitudinally arcuate extension links hingedly secured thereto, and foldable within said channel member, said links also being arcuate in transverse section whereby said links are strengthened and fitting together when in folded position, and bracelet end clamping means at the free end of the end link.

3. In a flexible bracelet, an extension devicel comprising a member having bracelet end clamping means at one end thereof, an extension link hingedly secured to the other end thereof, a second extension link hingedly secured to thel other end of the first link, means for detachably interlocking said links and means for guiding said links to interlocking position comprising a slot in one link and a tongue in the other link to extend through said slot and beyond the inner surface of the link. n

4. In a flexible bracelet, an extension devioe comprising a channel member having bracelet end clamping means at one end thereof, an extension link hingedly secured to the other end thereof, a second extension link hingedly secured to the other end of the first link, said links being foldable within said channel member, and one link having a slot therein and a tongue on the other link to extend therethrough and beyond the inner surface of the slotted link for guiding said links to folded position, and means for detachably locking said links when folded.

5. In a flexible bracelet, an extension device comprising a member having bracelet -end clamping means at one end thereof, an

extension link having lateral trunnions at one end hingedly mounted in the other end of the member, a second extension link hingedly Iecured to the other end of the first link, a catch member on the free end of the second link detachably engageable with the trunnion carrying end of the first link, a slot in said first link and a tongue on said second link for engaging the side edges of the slot and extending through and beyond the inner surface of the link for guiding the said edge into engagement with the catch member.

G. ln a fiekible bracelet, an extension device comprising a member having bracelet end clamping means at one end thereof, an eritension link having lateral trunnions at one end hingedly mounted in the other end of the member, and a second extension link having one end'hingedly securedk to the other` end of the first link, and having the other end bent upwardly at' an acute angle to the body portion to form an end wall and a catch iii-einher engageable with the trunnion carrying end' of the first link, and further folded to form an outwardly extension,` a bracelet end against said end wall, and clamping means with laterally extending jaws to laterally fold about the bracelet end. i

7. In a flexible bracelet, an extension device comprising a member having bracelet end clamping means at one end thereof, an extension link having lateral trunnions at one end hingedly mounted in the other end of the member, and a second extension link having one end hingedly secured to the other endV of the first link, and havingthe other end bent upwardly at an acute angle to the body portion to detachably interlock with the trunnion carrying' end of the first link when the links are folded together, said links bein;` arcuate in transverse cross section.l

8. ln a flexible bracelet, an extension device `comprising a channel member having bracelet clamping means at one end thereof, extension link having lateral trunnions at one end hingediy mounted in the other end of the member, and a second extension link having one end hingedly secured to the other end of the first link, and having the other end bent upwardly at an acute angle to the body portion to form a catch member engageable with the trunnion lcarrying end of the first link, and further bent to form a brace-v let end clamping means, said links being arcuate in transverse cross section and foldable within the channel member between the sides thereof.

9. In a ieXible bracelet, an extension device comprising an end member having a bracelet endclamp at one end thereof, an extension link hingedly connected thereto, and a second end member having one end hingedly connected to the free end of the link and the other end bent upwardly t0 form an end wall to house the hinged ends of the link and first member and further bent to extend outwardly with lateraljaws to fold and grip a bracelet end7 and one end of the bracelet abutting against said end wall.

l0. In a flexible bracelet, an extenison device comprising end members hingedly secured together, means on one end member for securing a bracelet end thereto, the free end of the other member being extended upwardly to form an end wall and then outwardly, said outward extension having lateral arms foldable to secure a bracelet endbetween the l folded arms and the outward extension, and one end of the bracelet abutting against said end wall.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

MAURICE ANDERSON. 

